Yes, I've been doing quite a bit of reading and such for quite some time. I also bought a bunch of books (Galey etc...) Not knowing much about diesels etc I had and still have much to learn. Not knowing anything about buses was whole 'nother thing too. I've never even driven an rv or been in one aside from shows and never been on a bus except the school bus in jr high and the local transit buses in my life until now so I had and still have much in that area too. I do like driving this one though.

I should thank Mark O for his help and input.I've also been quite an avid reader of Gumpy's web pages as he's done his work.I've searched out about everyone's web pages and everything I could devour to try to make sure I was up to the task. I hope I am! Even Ebay has been helpful in finding information and seeing other coaches.

Tons of work still to do.

Should I feel happy or scared? We run the range from being very happy and excited to being just about terrified looking at the thing and what we are getting into! We're very excited at not just using the bus but also the building part, that's half the fun!

DAX,CONGRADULATIONS! & Welcome to the madness!First off, I very impressed! Looks as thou you've done a great job on your home work! Also I see you've gotten advice from the honorable & quite capable MARK O (just don't ask me what he's capable of!> just kidding, Mr. O is a very knowledgable source of info and a very nice guy to boot! He has probably has forgoten more about most buses than I [or many others] ever knew > except SETRA's of course! LOL!).Also if you've followed MASTER GUMPY'S site than you are really way ahead of many of us who've been there done that and learned the hard way, cause MASTER GUMPY is just that a MASTER at this hobby to be learned from! There are others also but if you've been studying while lurking as well as it looks as though you have you already know this! Good luck and by all means if theres anything you need to know about, I assure you'll get whatever help you'll ever be likely to need! Remember the only truly STUPID QUESTION is the one that is not asked until it's too late! Great job so far! BK

By the way sticks were the norm back in those days and many were scared of auto's as they were still "new" in the industry! Now days yer lucky to find a driver that can handle a stick (commercial driver that is!)

Dave welcome to the madhouse. I will give you a couple of hints I use to save some aggravation screw everything together I guarantee you some will have to come back out LOL.

2nd Hint Do it your way it's yours some will say it'll never work but DO IT YOUR WAY.

LarryH

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Thanks for the welcome and the hints. We do plan on marking off a floor plan with tape and when we think we have it how we'd like it we plan on doing just as Christy said and mocking up in cardboard. Lot's of cardboard to get!Our first item on the agenda is to take out the old flooring and see what we have under there. I'm sure it'll be shocking and a can of worms but it needs to be done. After we get the new base in we'll probably turn more to the mechanics of the bus a little more while we wrestle with the floor plan ideas etc.Tons of ideas already but far more ideas than budget sadly so we'll go as we can, take our time and try to do it right or as right as we can.

Did you buy your bus from 'busmanted' in Florida. I was looking around the forum and found an entry from him in the thread with everyone's pictures. If so, he has a couple more pictures posted there...

After looking again, I see that it is not the same bus. Ted already has windows in his. It is amazing to see two buses look so similar.... right down to the shiny bay doors. If nothing else, Ted's might give you some ideas for windows.

Nope, I looked all across the country and didn't even think to look locally which is where I found it. I thought that there would be no way that I'd find anything locally.I was browsing some local online classifieds and ran across it quite unexpectedly.

That bus does look amazingly similar except for the windows and smooth door on the rear side where the air compressor was. I also have a camera pod too but that is really close and give me more hope.He also has Alcoa's or simulators which I'd like too.

Did you buy your bus from 'busmanted' in Florida. I was looking around the forum and found an entry from him in the thread with everyone's pictures. If so, he has a couple more pictures posted there...

After looking again, I see that it is not the same bus. Ted already has windows in his. It is amazing to see two buses look so similar.... right down to the shiny bay doors. If nothing else, Ted's might give you some ideas for windows.

If you decide you need some engine work, there is a guy here in Bakersfield named Don Fairchild who knows more about Detroits than anyone I have ever met. He also has some 22.5 Alcoas that he would probably sell too. I wouldn't mind having them but the Eagle came with 24.5s so I'm looking for them.